Federman, Asaf (2009) His excellency and the monk: a correspondence between Nyanaponika Thera and David Ben-Gurion. Contemporary Buddhism, Vol.10 (No.2). pp. 197-219. doi:10.1080/14639940903239769 ISSN 1463-9947.
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Abstract
Between the years 1956 and 1962 the scholar-monk Nyanaponika Thera and the first Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion have exchanged eight long letters. These letters—published here for the first time—expose the extent of Ben-Gurion's interest in Buddhism and reveal the Buddhist rhetoric used by one of Sri Lanka's most influential scholars. This rhetoric, which was generally well received by Ben-Gurion, was an exemplar of 'Protestant Buddhism'. It is suggested that Ben-Gurion could relate to this image of Buddhism because it reflected his own vision of Judaism that had 'protestant' characteristics. The letters contain autobiographical notes, unpublished comments on the Buddhist concepts of Suffering and Rebirth, and a curious plan to invite Nyanaponika to Israel.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BQ Buddhism |
| Divisions: | Other > Institute of Advanced Study |
| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Nyanaponika, Thera, 1901- -- Correspondence, Ben-Gurion, David, 1886-1973 -- Correspondence, Rhetoric -- Religious aspects -- Buddhism, Buddhism and international affairs, Buddhism -- Sri Lanka -- History |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Contemporary Buddhism |
| Publisher: | Routledge |
| ISSN: | 1463-9947 |
| Official Date: | November 2009 |
| Dates: | Date Event November 2009 Published |
| Volume: | Vol.10 |
| Number: | No.2 |
| Page Range: | pp. 197-219 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/14639940903239769 |
| Status: | Peer Reviewed |
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
| Persistent URL: | https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3141/ |
Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge
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